Vehicle-wheel.



Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

0. G. WORSLEY.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLIoATIon Hum MAY 25, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO G. WORSLEY, F BANGOR, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE-WHEEL To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO G. VVoRsLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bangor, in the county of Van Buren and State of Michigan,have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Wheel, of which the following isa specification.

The invention relates to improvements in vehicle wheels.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofvehicle wheels, more especially that shown and described in Patent, No.977,846 granted to me Dec. 6, 1910, and to provide a simple, ellicientand comparatively inexpensive cushioned wheel, adapted to noiselesslyabsorb all the shocks and jars incident to the travel of the same whenused as a driver for motor vehicles, and capable of producing a gradualstarting ofthe vehicle conducive to a longer wear of the same andgreater comfort to the oc cupants thereof.

W' ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists intheconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claimshereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawingz-Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of a portionof the cushioned wheel, constructed in accordance with this invent-ion.Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, a portion of the spoke being inelevation. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,.Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferredembodimentof the invention, 1 designates a metallic hub provided atintervals with radial spoke sockets 2, and having an annular groove 3surrounding the axle receiving opening 4 and communicating with thespoke Sockets 2. The hub is preferably constructed of malleable metal,and the annular groove may be cored .or otherwise formed `in thesameland a lubricant passage 6 extends from t e annular groove 3 to theexterior of the hub to permit oil, graphite, or other lubricant to beSpecication of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 25, 1911. Serial No. 629,455.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

supplied to the annular groove for lubrieating the spokes 7, ashereinafter fully described. The passage 6 for the introduction of thelubricant is short and is arranged at an inclination at the outer sideof one of the spoke sockets, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of thedrawing, and it is interiorly threaded at the outer end for thereception of a screw plug 8, which is preferably in the form of a thumbscrew, as shown.

The spokes 7 comprise in their construction exterior tubes or members 8and interiorly arranged tubes or members 9, constructed of steel orother suitable material and telescoping into the exterior tubes' ormembers 8 and connected with a hollow rim 10 of the wheel. The innerVends of the exterior tubes or 'members 8 are suitably secured within theradial sockets 2 of the hub, and the inner tubes or members 9 arecushioned by coiled springs 11, arranged within the outer tubularmembersS of the spokes and interposed between inner plates or seats 12and outer follower plates 13, which are carried by the inner tubularmembers of the spokes.- The inner plates or seats 12, which are circularto conform to the configuration of the outer tubular members 8a Y of thespokes, are preferably arranged within the inner ends of the same, asshown, and when the said outer members 8'al are fitted in the spokesockets 2, the inner plates or seats 12 fitagainst the bottom of thesaid sockets 2 and span the annular lubricant groove 3 and form anouter' wall for the same. The plates or seats 12 are provided withcentral perforations 14, forming communications between the annularlubricant groove and the interior of the spokes, and permitting ,thepassage of the lubricant from the grooves 3 to the spokes. The rotationof the wheel causes the lubricant to flow through the openings 14 intothe interior vof the spokes 7 .i

When the sp'okes and theinner plates or seats are removed from the spokesockets 2, access is thereby alforded to the lubricant passage, whichmay then be easily cleaned. Also this specific construction enables thehub to be easily cast.

The follower plates 13 normally t against the inner end of the tubularShanks 15 of the bearing heads 16. The tubular Shanks have bores oropenings 17, extending longitudinally of the tubular Shanks from theinner ends thereof to within a short distance of the bearing heads 16and receiving land ihousing coiled expansion springs 18,

ioo

`lower 'tact wlth the outer ends of the colled cushioning springs 11.When the parts are in normal positions and conditions, the heavycushioning springs 11 are substantially at the limit of their expansionso that their pressure on the inner sides ofthe follower plates 13 isjust suflicient to maintain said plates against the inner ends of thetubular Shanks 15, such pressure being greater but not excessivelygreater than that of the lighter expansion springs 18 which are undercompression to a much greater extent and bearing against the opposite orouter faces of said follower plates. hen, however, the wheel passes overbumps or rough places, and suddenly drops and rises, quickly compressingand then quickly relleving the springs 11, the lighter expansion springs18 moving more quickly than the heavier cushioning springs 11 willalways maintain the follower plates in contact with said springs 11 andthus prevent rattling and noise which would occur without said expansionsprings and always ,maintaining the follower plates `closely heldbetween the springs and in proper position relative'to the inner membersof the spokes, in which they are slidably seated, thus preventingpossible displacement, turning, or rattling during the quick actions ofthe ,members vThe inner portions of the inner tubular members 9 of thespokes are provided at intervals with perforations 19 for the passage oflubricant for lubricating the contiguous bearing faces of the innerandouter tubular members 8a and the outer faces of the inner tubularmembers 9 to be thoroughly lubricated by the lubricant introduced intothe annular groove 3 of the hub.

The rim of the wheel is composed of two annular complemental sections20, forming an approximately U-shaped rim and provided at their sideswith angular bends or olf-sets 21, forming interior annular shoulders orseats 22 for a resilient metallic band 23. The sections 20 are alsoprovided at intervals with transverse webs or lugs 24, having meetingedges abutting against each other and provided with outer transverseedges 25, arranged in flush relation with the annular shoulders or seats22 and co-'act- Vring with the same in supporting the metallic theconstruction of the transverse buffers or cushions, which are secured tothe lugs or webs 24 by-rivets 28, or other suitable fastening devices.The rim sections are secured together by transverse bolts 20, piercingthe opposite sides of the rim sections at points between the interiorannular shoulders `or` seats 22 and the inner edges of the sections, andlocated in the spaces between the transverse webs occurring at pointsbetween the other accumulation from the interior of the rim. The plates,which have openings 31a to receive the shanks of the bearin heads, aresecured by rivets, or other -suita le fastening devices' to projectingflanges 32 of collars 33, fitted on the -shanks 15 and secured to thesame by transverse rivets or pins 34, which pass through ears 35 of thecollars 33. The openings 36 in the Shanks are elongated or elliptical toprovide a limited play ofV the parts, and the outer ends of theexpansion springs 18-fit against the rivets or pins 34, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing, whereby the plates 31 areyieldingly held in contact with the inside of the hollow rim 10,directly by the pressure of the spring 18 which spring thus performs`the double function of always holding the follower plates 13 againstthe springs 18 and always maintaining ao yielding contact between plates31 and the rim. I

The shanks 15 are suitably secured with-l in the inner tubular members,and are re-1 duced to form shoulders 15@L to tit against the outer endsof the said inner tubular members. The bearing heads, which are locatedwithin the spaces 26 of the rim, extend longitudinally'thereof and areprovided at their ends with walls or lugs 37, which form stops for aplurality of anti-friction rollers 38, arranged in the space or recessbetween the end lugs or walls 37 there being sutl cient space betweenthe end walls to permit free play ofthe rollers 38.' The rollers 38 arepreferably hollow, as shown, and the bearing head is equipped with aplate 39, constructed of steel or .other suitable material and extendingthe entire length of the recess of the bearing heads.

The anti-friction rollers 38 facilitate the longitudinal movement of thebearing heads within the rim, the movement being limited by the end lugsor walls 37 of the: heads eny 45 the tubular Shanks, cushionin at theends of the spaces 26. This engagement causes the rim to travel with thespokes and the hub, and the transverse buffers prevent noise andA absorbthe jar incident to the contact of the bearing heads with the lugs orwebs of the rim.

The wheel is equipped with a solid rubber tire 40, seatedI on themetallic band 23 and arranged between the outer portions of the sides ofthe rim sections, which project beyond the band, as clearly shown inFigs. 2

and 3 of the drawing. Any form of tire may be employed, as thecushioning action of the springs renders the wheel resilient andobvlates the necessity of employing pneumatic tires.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I c aim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wheel comprising a hub provided with spoke sockets, outer tubularspoke members in said sockets, inner tubular members telescopinglymounted in Said outer members, hollow Shanks secured to the innermembers, a rim connected to the Shanks, folv lower plates in the innertelescoping members against the inner ends of the Shanks, cushioningsprings between the follower plates andthe hub, and lighter expansionsprings in the Shanks bearing on the outer faces of the follower plates.

2. A wheel including a hub, spokes secured at their inner ends to thehub and comosed of inner and outer telescopic members, caring headshaving tubular Shanks fitted within the said tubular members and havinglongitudinal bores or openings extending from the inner ends of theshanks and terminating short of the bearing heads, follower platesiitted against the' inner ends of springs housed within the spokes andarlng at their outer ends against the follower plates, \expansiblesprings arranged with the tubular Shanks and bearing against thefollower plates for maintaining the same in contact with the saidcushioning springs, and a rimgconnected with the bearm heads.

3. A wheel comprising a hollow rim having longitudinal slots in itsinner wall, a

.55 spoke comprising a hollow tubular shank projected through each ofSaid slots and provided with a transverse radially elongated slot, abearing head inside the rim carried on the outer end ofthe shank, acollar on l the shank inside of the inner wall of the rim, a platecarriedby said collar bearing",

against the rim, a pin passing through the collar and through the slotin the shank with play in tlfe latter, and a spring in the hollow of theshank pressing outward against the pin.

4. A wheel comprising a hub, a spoke having hollow telescoping sections,andV a h0llow shank in the lnner telescoping section, a head on theouter end of the shank, a hollow rim in which said head is Seated andprovided with a longitudinal slot to receive the hollow shank, a platemounted on the shank bearing on the inner side of the rim, a transversepin loosely engaging the shank and connected to said plate, a followerplate in the hollow spoke, a cushioning spring bearing outwardly againstsaid follower plate, and an expansion spring bearing inwardly againstthe follower plate to maintain it always in contact with the cushioningsprings, and pressing outwardly against the pin carried by the platemounted on the shank to maintain said plate always in contact with therim.

5. A wheel including a hub, spokes connected at their inner ends withthe hub and provided at their outer ends with bearing heads and havingside grooves arranged adjacent to the bearing heads, means for pressingthe bearing heads outward, a hollow rim composed of annular sectionsfitted together andprovided at their meeting edges with recesses forminopenings through which the spokes exten the edges of the rim at therecesses fitting in the side `ooves of the spokes, collars secured on te spokes and having projecting flanges, plates mounted on the spokes andsecured to the flanges of the collars and arranged to cover the saidopenings, means to yieldingly press the plates into engagement with therim, and antifriction devices carried by the bearing heads and fittedagainst the rim.

6. A wheel including spokes provided with bearing heads, a hollow rimreceiving the bearing heads and composed of annular sections andprovided at op osite sides with angular bends forming interior annularshoulders, said sections being also provided with transverse webs havingouter edges arranged in flush relation with the shoulders, a metallicband supported upon the lu and the shoulders, and an elastic tire seateupon the band between the sections of the rim.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my.own,' I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OTTO G. WORSLEY. Witnesses:

Crus. E. Caoss, WALTER E. WlLcox.

